Vergelegen gathers gold at International Wine and Spirits Competition
Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West has taken several top awards, including a coveted gold, at the 2008 International Wine and Spirits Competition.
This premier competition was founded in London in 1969 to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs. There is a rigorous two-stage judging process of professional blind tasting and detailed chemical and microbiological analysis. Entries must be from an identifiable batch or lot and available in commercial quantities to eliminate the possibility of show products taking part.
Vergelegen's 2003 red won a gold for the second time (it took gold in 2006) and the Cabernet Franc Merlot 2005 took a silver (best in class). The Vergelegen 2004, Vergelegen V 2005 and Chardonnay Reserve 2007 won silver awards, while the Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Shiraz 2006, Vergelegen 2005, Merlot 2005 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 took bronze awards.
The Vergelegen 2003 retails for R320/bottle (R300/bottle from the estate) and is a 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc blend with a rich ruby colour. Cassis, pencil lead, spice and red berries abound on the nose. It is sourced from the estate's Rondekop vineyard with granite soils and a deep clay/pebble base giving good water retention. Planting density is 4000 vines/ha.
Vergelegen marketing manager Eddie Turner said: "This is another great accolade for our winemaker, Andre van Rensburg. A great deal of expertise and capital has gone into every element of the winemaking process since Anglo American bought the estate in 1987. We are dedicated to producing some of the best wines in the world and it is pleasing to be acknowledged by our global peers in the industry."
The Vergelegen vineyards range in altitude from 140 metres above sea level to 310 metres with slopes facing north to north-west and south to south- east. The climate is mild due to the proximity of False Bay six km away. Twenty-one soil types have been identified on Vergelegen, generally with very high clay content. Planting density varies from 2 666 to 5000 vines/hectare depending on soil, varietal and rootstock.
The current plantings are Cabernet Sauvignon (33.34 ha), Merlot (23.19 ha), Cabernet Franc (5.89), Shiraz (5.83), Sauvignon Blanc (14.33 ha), Semillon (9.36 ha) and Chardonnay (14.87 ha).
Vergelegen has won numerous top wine awards in the past few years including Wine Enthusiast magazine's New World Winery Of The Year (2005); SA Wine magazine's Best South African Winery 2004/2005/2006/2007/2008; the Old Mutual trophy wine show Most Successful Producer 2002/2003/2004/2006 and the International Wine & Spirits Competition Chateau Pichon Longueville Trophy 2001/2003. | 
